This week, as a pastor, I… Considered what teenage boys need to know about God, Taught about how to pray for San Bernadino, Completed my last task (a thank you letter) for a now defunct congregation, Met a homeless mom with 5 kids, a minivan and a surprisingly easy smile, Wondered how to teach generosity in the year to come, Encountered a man who had … Continue reading This Week in Ministry
TEXT Luke 1:39-55 In those days Mary set out and went with haste to a Judean town in the hill country, where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the child leapt in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and exclaimed with a loud cry, ‘Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the … Continue reading Bible Leads: Luke 1:39-55
This week in ministry, I… passed out chocolate kisses, drank beer and ate pizza, scrubbed urinals at the shelter, hung up garland poorly, wrote to the Bishop, read a book on my phone, thought a lot about John the Baptist, wondered what to say or do about terrorism and gun violence, recruited parishioners for a new ministry. Things are getting busier, but most of what there is to … Continue reading This Week in Ministry
The flowers guy was right. And we should start planting flowers every time an act of violence ruins our day. The idea is to resist ugliness by adding beauty. Honestly, I want as much gun control legislation as you can get. But the counter-arguments are probably somewhat true: bad guys don’t care about laws, etc., etc. Furthermore, I have limited confidence in legislation. I am … Continue reading A Spirituality of Peace in an Age of Violence
To claim ownership of trees, valleys and hills while they live without you. Precious, holy gift Planted deep, watered by time Grows in manure. Continue reading Tuesday Haikus: Trees
TEXT Luke 3:1-18 In the fifteenth year of the reign of Emperor Tiberius, when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, and Herod was ruler of Galilee, and his brother Philip ruler of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias ruler of Abilene, during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John son of Zechariah in the wilderness. He … Continue reading Bible Leads: Luke 3:1-18
With sterling silver cocoons of vacuumed freshness blown apart for me (about a bag of potato chips) Colorless to see colorless stuff inside (about a bottle of 7-Up) Continue reading Tuesday Haikus: Disposable
TEXT Luke 1:8-20 Once when he was serving as priest before God and his section was on duty, he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to enter the sanctuary of the Lord and offer incense. Now at the time of the incense offering, the whole assembly of the people was praying outside. Then there appeared to him an angel of … Continue reading Bible Leads: Luke 1:8-20
Sometimes I feel like I ought to wear my collar during the week, just to better illustrate the things I do as a pastor. This week I just did a lot of seeing other people in various capacities. So this we, as a pastor, I … ate a ton of Thanksgiving food, almost 2 weeks before the actual day. stumbled over praying for Paris, then wrote … Continue reading This Week in Ministry
Sleep, choke, gasp, repeat for hours, Get up sad. Air enters, stops cold alarms sound upstairs jarring me awake to breathe Continue reading Tuesday Haikus: Apnea
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